If you’re looking for easy, comforting dinners that won’t break the bank, you’re in the right place! This week’s meal plan is filled with 7 cozy, budget-friendly dinners that are perfect for chilly evenings, busy weeknights, and feeding your family without spending a fortune.
We’re talking cheesy French onion sandwiches, hearty Crockpot soups, creamy chicken and rice, and plenty of homemade comfort food!
The best part? These seven dinners use affordable ingredients that overlap throughout the week, helping you save money at the grocery store while still making meals your family will look forward to.
Whether you’re trying to stick to a grocery budget or simply need some fresh dinner inspiration, I’ve got you covered!
Why You’ll Love This Weekly Dinner Plan
One grocery list: Shop for all seven dinners at once instead of making multiple trips to the store.
Budget-friendly ingredients: These recipes use affordable staples like ground beef, chicken, potatoes, rice, and pasta.
Less food waste: Several recipes share ingredients, so you can make the most of what you buy.
Easy family dinners: Simple instructions and familiar ingredients make these meals great for busy evenings.
Cozy comfort food: From creamy mashed potatoes to cheesy soups, these dinners are perfect for fall and winter.
1
French Onion Ground Beef Melts with Au Jus
Crispy, buttery bread stuffed with savory French onion ground beef and gooey melted cheese. Served with warm au jus for dipping, these budget-friendly sandwiches are the ultimate comfort food!
Get the French Onion Ground Beef Melts with Au Jus recipe →
2
Crockpot Mississippi Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes
Tender meatballs slow-cooked in a buttery, savory gravy with ranch seasoning and pepperoncini. Served over creamy mashed potatoes, this easy Crockpot dinner is perfect for busy weeknights!
Get the Crockpot Mississippi Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes Recipe→
3
Crockpot Lasagna Soup
All the delicious flavors of homemade lasagna without the extra work! This hearty Crockpot soup is loaded with seasoned ground beef, tender lasagna noodles, rich tomato broth, and melted mozzarella cheese.
4
Creamy Jalapeño Popper Chicken & Rice
Tender chicken, fluffy rice, fresh jalapeños, and plenty of melted cheese come together in one creamy skillet dinner. It’s everything you love about jalapeño poppers in an easy, budget-friendly meal!
5
Crispy Hot Honey Chicken & Rice
Golden, crispy chicken bites coated in a sweet and spicy homemade hot honey sauce and served over fluffy white rice. This easy dinner tastes like takeout without the expensive price tag!
6
Smothered Chicken & Mashed Potatoes
Tender, golden chicken smothered in rich homemade onion gravy and served over buttery mashed potatoes. This cozy, old-fashioned comfort food dinner is made with simple, affordable ingredients!
7
Cheesy Taco Potato Skillet
Crispy golden potatoes, seasoned ground beef, diced tomatoes, and melted cheddar cheese come together in one skillet. A hearty, family-friendly dinner that makes taco night even better!
One Grocery List for All 7 Dinners
One of my favorite ways to save money on groceries is to plan dinners that use similar ingredients throughout the week.
Instead of buying completely different ingredients for every recipe, this meal plan uses the same staples multiple times.
Meat & Frozen
- 4 lbs ground beef
- 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (26–32 oz) bag frozen homestyle meatballs
Fresh Produce
- 1 (5 lb) bag russet potatoes
- 4 yellow onions
- 1 head garlic
- 2 fresh jalapeños
- 1 jar pepperoncini peppers
Dairy & Refrigerated
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese
- 2½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 12 tbsp butter
- 1¼ cups milk
- 2 eggs
Bread, Rice & Pasta
- 1 loaf sandwich bread (at least 16 slices)
- 3 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
- 8 lasagna noodles
- 1½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
Canned Goods & Broth
- 7½ cups beef broth (two 32 oz cartons)
- 5 cups chicken broth (two 32 oz cartons)
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 small can tomato paste (you’ll use 1 tbsp)
- 1 (10 oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
Seasoning Packets
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 1 packet ranch seasoning
- 1 packet au jus gravy mix*
- 1 packet taco seasoning
Pantry Staples
Check your pantry before shopping! You’ll also need:
- Worcestershire sauce
- Honey
- Hot sauce
- Olive oil or cooking spray
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Smoked paprika
- Paprika
- Italian seasoning
- Dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper
- Optional red pepper flakes
*No au jus mix at Aldi?
- Combine 1 tbsp beef bouillon, 1 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp dried parsley, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Use in place of one au jus packet.
- One packet of brown gravy mix can also be substituted.
- For thicker gravy, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water and stir it into the Crockpot during the last 10–15 minutes of cooking.
Tips for Keeping Your Grocery Bill Low
Shop your pantry first. Before heading to the store, check for ingredients you already have, especially seasonings, rice, flour, and condiments.
Buy store brands. Store-brand broth, canned tomatoes, cheese, and frozen meatballs can help keep costs down.
Use the same ingredients throughout the week. This meal plan uses potatoes, onions, garlic, ground beef, and shredded cheese in multiple recipes.
Choose affordable substitutions. If your store doesn’t carry au jus gravy mix, substitute brown gravy mix. You can also use regular sandwich bread instead of expensive bakery bread for the French onion melts.
Freeze what you won’t use right away. If you’re shopping for the entire week, freeze the meat for later dinners and thaw it safely in the refrigerator when needed.
Make Dinner Planning Even Easier!
Want to skip the hassle of organizing recipes and making your own grocery list?
My Premium Meal Plan Membership includes a convenient printable PDF with all seven recipes, one organized grocery list, helpful ingredient swaps, and extra meal-planning tips.
For just $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year, you can make weekly dinner planning a whole lot easier!
Join the Premium Meal Plan Membership
Let’s Make Dinner Easier This Week!
You don’t need expensive ingredients or complicated recipes to put delicious dinners on the table.
With a little planning and a handful of affordable grocery staples, you can make seven cozy, satisfying dinners that your family will actually look forward to.
I hope this week’s meal plan makes your evenings a little easier and your grocery budget a little happier!
Happy cooking! 🩷
